ers, perceived that the Doctor was
animated with quite a different spirit than that of freedom. The
minister gave them an immediate audience; when Faustus spoke to him with
much warmth and boldness concerning the situation and opinions of the
Doctor. He represented to him how injurious it would be to his
reputation to sacrifice a man, whom he once called friend, at the shrine
of despotism. He gave him to understand that every man would believe
that revenge and fear had actuated him to get rid of so sharp-sighted an
observer of his actions. "If your proceedings be just," he continued,
"you have, then, nothing to fear from him; if, on the contrary, you are
such a man as he declares you to be, his execution will only strengthen
his assertion, and every honest man will call you a false friend and an
oppressor of your fellow-citizens."

_Minister_. I do not know you, nor do I ask who you are. The manner in
which I bear your reproaches and your epithets will best prove my opinion
of you. Consider, now, whether you have a right to bestow them from mere
hearsay, being yourself unacquainted with the affairs of this country. I
will conclude, however, that you speak from compassion, and therefore
will give you an answer. I was, and am still, the friend of Dr.
Robertus; and I deplore the necessity which forces me to deliver up to
justice a man whose talents might have made him useful to his country,
had he not perverted them to her destruction. I will not search for the
cause of this in his breast, but will leave it to his own conscience.
For a long time I have tolerated his dangerous infatuation; but since he
has inflamed the minds of the people for whose welfare I am answerable,
and has placed himself at the head of a rebellion, he must die, as my own
son must, were he guilty of the like offence. The law has judged him,
and not I; he knew this law, and knew what penalties rebellion draws down
upon its sons. I have nothing to say against the opinion of the people:
when they are no longer misled, I believe they will consider me as their
father. If you please, you may stay among us; and whenever you can see
any thing really calculated for the people's good, be assured that I
shall always pay attention to it.

After these words, which he spoke in a firm and unaltered tone, he
retired, and left Faustus, who was unable at the moment to make any
reply. Upon going away, the latter said to the Devil, "Which of these
two, no